Lowering Home Insurance Rates

Published February 26th, 2013

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It's a dream millions of Americans strive to achieve, owning their own home. Though with the big step comes even bigger responsibilities, like protecting that home from theft, fires and storms for those of us here in Florida. The way insurance rates work is they reflect the risk in your area. Insuring your home can be confusing and overwhelming, but if you know what you need, you may not end up paying an arm and a leg. State farm spokeswoman Michal Brower says talking with your insurer could point you in the right direction. Gloria Johnson has been a homeowner for 10 years and says her insurance agent barely keeps in contact with her. She says he only speaks to her agent when it's time to renew. Besides talking with your agent to get the best deals, there are several other ways to save money on rates. First, get a wind mitigation inspection. Curtis Sailor with USA Inspections in Ocala does thousands of this type of inspection each year and says, it's worth it for the homeowner. On average a homeowner could save $250 to $400, and in bigger homes, the savings are even larger. Johnson says insurance companies aren't going to tell you about the inspection, because they are trying to make money. So why is this certain test so important? Sailor says Florida is hurricane prone and it's a way for insurance companies to see the homes that they're insuring are meeting the right codes. Hurricanes like Sandy that hit late last year. Although the southern part of the state saw damage, it was not nearly as catastrophic as when the storm hit the northeast part of the country. Officials dubbed Sandy the second costliest storm in history only behind Hurricane Katrina. Brower says a storm like that could have easily hit us. Another way to save money, find out if you're over insured. Similar homes in your neighborhood have sold for much less than the insured value of the home, so ask your agent about reducing the amount of insurance you have. Also, take a look at your deductible, a higher deductible could mean a lower rate. Lastly, it pays to shop around. Johnson advises homeowners to find the best rates you can, no matter how long it takes.